Court Rules Against Emirates Flying New York – Milan Route

An Italian court told Emirates that it would no longer be able to fly the New York – Milan route that it had launched last year, agreeing with a complaint filed by an association of Italian airlines alleging that the trans-Atlantic service violated the terms of a bilateral air agreement between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

Emirates extended one of its Dubai – Milan flights to continue to New York last year, and it quickly became the market share leader on the route. The move scared the living hell out of basically every airline in the world, as it meant that Emirates had its eye on expanding well beyond its Dubai base. And Emirates’ CEO has said that he has been approached about launching similar non-Dubai service by airports in the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Spain to the US and South America.

Emirates said they are looking at whether they should appeal the ruling, but no announcement has yet been made about when they will cancel flights between the cities.